Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Deuteronomy 32:28-52; Luke 13:1-21; Psalm 78:65-72; and Proverbs 12:25. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Deuteronomy 32:28-52 (Contemporary English Version)
28People of Israel,
that's what the LORD
has said to you.
But you don't have good sense,
and you never listen
to advice.
29If you did, you could see
where you are headed.
30How could one enemy soldier
chase a thousand
of Israel's troops?
Or how could two of theirs
pursue ten thousand of ours?
It can only happen if the LORD
stops protecting Israel
and lets the enemy win.
31Even our enemies know
that only our God
is a Mighty Rock. [a] 32Our enemies are grapevines
rooted in the fields
of Sodom and Gomorrah. [b] The grapes they produce
are full of bitter poison;
33their wine is more deadly
than cobra venom.
34But the LORD has written
a list of their sins
and locked it in his vault.
35Soon our enemies will get
what they deserve [c] -- suddenly they will slip,
and total disaster
will quickly follow.
36When only a few
of the LORD's people remain,
when their strength is gone,
and some of them are slaves,
the LORD will feel sorry for them
and give them justice.
37But first the LORD will say,
" You ran for safety to other gods--
couldn't they help you?
38You offered them wine
and your best sacrifices.
Can't those gods help you now
or give you protection?
39Don't you understand?
I am the only God;
there are no others.
I am the one who takes life
and gives it again.
I punished you with suffering.
But now I will heal you,
and nothing can stop me!
40" I make this solemn promise:
Just as I live forever,
41I will take revenge
on my hateful enemies.
I will sharpen my sword
and let it flash
like lightning.
42My arrows will get drunk
on enemy blood;
my sword will taste the flesh
and the blood
of the enemy.
It will kill prisoners,
and cut off the heads
of their leaders." [d] 43Tell the heavens to celebrate
and all gods to bow down
to the LORD, [e] because he will take revenge
on those hateful enemies
who killed his people.
He will forgive the sins of Israel
and purify their land. [f] 44-45Moses spoke the words of the song so that all the Israelites could hear, and Joshua [g]helped him. When Moses had finished, 46he said, " Always remember this song I have taught you today. And let it be a warning that you must teach your children to obey everything written in The Book of God's Law. 47The Law isn't empty words. It can give you a long life in the land that you are going to take."
that's what the LORD
has said to you.
But you don't have good sense,
and you never listen
to advice.
29If you did, you could see
where you are headed.
30How could one enemy soldier
chase a thousand
of Israel's troops?
Or how could two of theirs
pursue ten thousand of ours?
It can only happen if the LORD
stops protecting Israel
and lets the enemy win.
31Even our enemies know
that only our God
is a Mighty Rock. [a] 32Our enemies are grapevines
rooted in the fields
of Sodom and Gomorrah. [b] The grapes they produce
are full of bitter poison;
33their wine is more deadly
than cobra venom.
34But the LORD has written
a list of their sins
and locked it in his vault.
35Soon our enemies will get
what they deserve [c] -- suddenly they will slip,
and total disaster
will quickly follow.
36When only a few
of the LORD's people remain,
when their strength is gone,
and some of them are slaves,
the LORD will feel sorry for them
and give them justice.
37But first the LORD will say,
" You ran for safety to other gods--
couldn't they help you?
38You offered them wine
and your best sacrifices.
Can't those gods help you now
or give you protection?
39Don't you understand?
I am the only God;
there are no others.
I am the one who takes life
and gives it again.
I punished you with suffering.
But now I will heal you,
and nothing can stop me!
40" I make this solemn promise:
Just as I live forever,
41I will take revenge
on my hateful enemies.
I will sharpen my sword
and let it flash
like lightning.
42My arrows will get drunk
on enemy blood;
my sword will taste the flesh
and the blood
of the enemy.
It will kill prisoners,
and cut off the heads
of their leaders." [d] 43Tell the heavens to celebrate
and all gods to bow down
to the LORD, [e] because he will take revenge
on those hateful enemies
who killed his people.
He will forgive the sins of Israel
and purify their land. [f] 44-45Moses spoke the words of the song so that all the Israelites could hear, and Joshua [g]helped him. When Moses had finished, 46he said, " Always remember this song I have taught you today. And let it be a warning that you must teach your children to obey everything written in The Book of God's Law. 47The Law isn't empty words. It can give you a long life in the land that you are going to take."
Moses Will See the Land
48Later that day the LORD said to Moses: 49Go up into the Abarim Mountain range here in Moab across the Jordan River valley from Jericho. And when you reach the top of Mount Nebo, you will be able to see the land of Canaan, which I am giving to Israel. 50Then you will die and be buried on the mountaintop, just as your brother Aaron died and was buried on Mount Hor. 51Both of you were unfaithful to me at Meribah Spring near Kadesh in the Zin Desert. [h] I am God, but there in front of the Israelites, you did not treat me with the honor and respect I deserve. 52So I will give the land to the people of Israel, but you will only get to see it from a distance. Footnotes:- Deuteronomy 32:31 Mighty Rock: See the note at 32.4.
- Deuteronomy 32:32 Sodom and Gomorrah: Two cities that the LORD destroyed because their people were so evil (see Genesis 18.16--19.28).
- Deuteronomy 32:35 our enemies. . . deserve: The Samaritan Hebrew Text and one ancient translation; the Standard Hebrew Text " I will pay them back."
- Deuteronomy 32:42 leaders: Or " long-haired warriors," who let their hair grow to show that they had made sacred promises to their gods.
- Deuteronomy 32:43 Tell. . . LORD: The Dead Sea Scrolls and one ancient translation; the Standard Hebrew Text " Let the nations, his people, celebrate."
- Deuteronomy 32:43 because he will. . . land: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Deuteronomy 32:44 Joshua: The Hebrew text has " Hoshea," another form of Joshua's name.
- Deuteronomy 32:51 Both of you were unfaithful. . . the Zin Desert: See Numbers 20.1-13.
Footnotes:
- Deuteronomy 32:31 Mighty Rock: See the note at 32.4.
- Deuteronomy 32:32 Sodom and Gomorrah: Two cities that the LORD destroyed because their people were so evil (see Genesis 18.16--19.28).
- Deuteronomy 32:35 our enemies. . . deserve: The Samaritan Hebrew Text and one ancient translation; the Standard Hebrew Text " I will pay them back."
- Deuteronomy 32:42 leaders: Or " long-haired warriors," who let their hair grow to show that they had made sacred promises to their gods.
- Deuteronomy 32:43 Tell. . . LORD: The Dead Sea Scrolls and one ancient translation; the Standard Hebrew Text " Let the nations, his people, celebrate."
- Deuteronomy 32:43 because he will. . . land: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Deuteronomy 32:44 Joshua: The Hebrew text has " Hoshea," another form of Joshua's name.
- Deuteronomy 32:51 Both of you were unfaithful. . . the Zin Desert: See Numbers 20.1-13.
Luke 13:1-21 (Contemporary English Version)
Luke 13
Turn Back to God
1About this same time Jesus was told that Pilate had given orders for some people from Galilee to be killed while they were offering sacrifices. 2Jesus replied: Do you think that these people were worse sinners than everyone else in Galilee just because of what happened to them? 3Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don't turn back to God, every one of you will also be killed. 4What about those eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse than everyone else in Jerusalem? 5Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don't turn back to God, every one of you will also die.
A Story about a Fig Tree
6Jesus then told them this story: A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. One day he went out to pick some figs, but he didn't find any. 7So he said to the gardener, "For three years I have come looking for figs on this tree, and I haven't found any yet. Chop it down! Why should it take up space?"
8The gardener answered, "Master, leave it for another year. I'll dig around it and put some manure on it to make it grow. 9Maybe it will have figs on it next year. If it doesn't, you can have it cut down."
8The gardener answered, "Master, leave it for another year. I'll dig around it and put some manure on it to make it grow. 9Maybe it will have figs on it next year. If it doesn't, you can have it cut down."
Healing a Woman on the Sabbath
10One Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in a Jewish meeting place, 11and a woman was there who had been crippled by an evil spirit for eighteen years. She was completely bent over and could not straighten up. 12When Jesus saw the woman, he called her over and said, "You are now well." 13He placed his hands on her, and right away she stood up straight and praised God. 14The man in charge of the meeting place was angry because Jesus had healed someone on the Sabbath. So he said to the people, "Each week has six days when we can work. Come and be healed on one of those days, but not on the Sabbath."
15The Lord replied, "Are you trying to fool someone? Won't any one of you untie your ox or donkey and lead it out to drink on a Sabbath? 16This woman belongs to the family of Abraham, but Satan has kept her bound for eighteen years. Isn't it right to set her free on the Sabbath?" 17Jesus' words made his enemies ashamed. But everyone else in the crowd was happy about the wonderful things he was doing.
15The Lord replied, "Are you trying to fool someone? Won't any one of you untie your ox or donkey and lead it out to drink on a Sabbath? 16This woman belongs to the family of Abraham, but Satan has kept her bound for eighteen years. Isn't it right to set her free on the Sabbath?" 17Jesus' words made his enemies ashamed. But everyone else in the crowd was happy about the wonderful things he was doing.
A Mustard Seed and Yeast
(Matthew 13.31-33; Mark 4.30-32)
18Jesus said, "What is God's kingdom like? What can I compare it with? 19It is like what happens when someone plants a mustard seed in a garden. The seed grows as big as a tree, and birds nest in its branches." 20Then Jesus said, "What can I compare God's kingdom with? 21It is like what happens when a woman mixes yeast into three batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises."
Psalm 78:65-72 (Contemporary English Version)
65Finally the Lord woke up,
and he shouted
like a drunken soldier.
66God scattered his enemies
and made them ashamed
forever.
67Then the Lord decided
not to make his home
with Joseph's descendants
in Ephraim. [a] 68Instead he chose the tribe
of Judah,
and he chose Mount Zion,
the place he loves.
69There he built his temple
as lofty as the mountains
and as solid as the earth
that he had made
to last forever.
70The Lord God chose David
to be his servant
and took him
from tending sheep
71and from caring for lambs.
Then God made him the leader
of Israel, his own nation.
72David treated the people fairly
and guided them with wisdom.
Footnotes:- Psalm 78:67 with. . . Ephraim: Ephraim was Joseph's youngest son. One of the twelve tribes was named after him, and sometimes the northern kingdom of Israel was also known as Ephraim. The town of Shiloh was in the territory of Ephraim, but the place where God was worshiped was moved from there to Zion (Jerusalem) in the territory of Judah.
and he shouted
like a drunken soldier.
66God scattered his enemies
and made them ashamed
forever.
67Then the Lord decided
not to make his home
with Joseph's descendants
in Ephraim. [a] 68Instead he chose the tribe
of Judah,
and he chose Mount Zion,
the place he loves.
69There he built his temple
as lofty as the mountains
and as solid as the earth
that he had made
to last forever.
70The Lord God chose David
to be his servant
and took him
from tending sheep
71and from caring for lambs.
Then God made him the leader
of Israel, his own nation.
72David treated the people fairly
and guided them with wisdom.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 78:67 with. . . Ephraim: Ephraim was Joseph's youngest son. One of the twelve tribes was named after him, and sometimes the northern kingdom of Israel was also known as Ephraim. The town of Shiloh was in the territory of Ephraim, but the place where God was worshiped was moved from there to Zion (Jerusalem) in the territory of Judah.
Proverbs 12:25 (Contemporary English Version)
25Worry is a heavy burden,
but a kind word
always brings cheer.
but a kind word
always brings cheer.
Thought for the Day
“Even when we were God's enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son's life.” (Romans 5:10 - Contemporary English Version) Through Jesus Christ, God has shown us grace. And because he was gracious, we have the chance to feel both peace and salvation.
Quote for the Day
American writer on literature, philosophy and society, a poet and a prominent political activist, Max Eastman wrote, “Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.”
A Joke for Today